This article is like deja vu to me, because I was in a similar situation 21 years ago. I was an Army nurse, Captain, and I was married,still am, to a West Point graduate. I was in the last four months of a five year commitment to the Army when my daughter was born. I planned to go back to work at six weeks, which was the standard. I had a chance to get out when I was first pregnant but did not choose this, wanting to finish my time in service. I still planned to go back to work when she was born, up until a few weeks before my return when I had second thoughts. I decided to take my 30 days of leave which I had accrued, and this put me to mid April, when I was to return. I was torn by the decision to go. I could not find child care for her that I felt comfortable with. We were in a strange community, far from home, and there were not places like Kindercare or child care places for small infants then, because I guess there were few moms returning to work. Any way, I had to go, and did, for several weeks, with my husband bringing her to feed at lunch and me pumping with a bicycle horn pump. She refused bottles totally and waited for me every day, and then tanked up all evening and night. I was able to fill out a ton of paperwork and send letters to my senators and the President of the United States, and I ended up getting out about 6 weeks early. I promise I never ever expected to have a problem going back to the Army. I liked my job. I was totally shocked at how strong my feelings were. I suppose there were those that felt I took advantage of the military, but I had 100% intentions of staying on until the end. And I feel that this Army mom did too. Motherhood will certainly take hold and make one change their committments mighty fast. Ann Calandro,RNC,IBCLC whose daughter is now a junior in college, nursing student UNC-Chapel Hill, and plans to become a midwife after finishing the RN program And who is still grateful for Gerald Ford, who backed me up and helped me get out early